Washing machine



Aug. 16 1938.

F. SCHROEDER WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct.

4 Sheets-Sheet l "Va? 6?): roea ier M Attomey Aug. 16, 1938. F. SCHROEDER 2,127,311

' WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Trad khr'aetzei' Attorney Aug. 16, 1938. v sg c p 2,127,311

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, I935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 V 19 El 44 z y ,4 r I nventor M 27 r .7 free? Liz/awa Attomey 93 F. SCHROEDER' 2,127,311

WASHING MACHINE Filed OO t. 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 d? ij. 6.

In venlor fired i /zr'aeder M A ilomep Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a washing machine, and particularly to a washing machine for washing and cleaning boxes and cases, and an important object of my invention is to provide a washing machine especially adapted so as to be capable of being readily adjusted to Wash and clean boxes of different lengths and widths, such as are used in milk plants and breweries.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the character indicated above which once adjusted will clean and wash the boxes and the like of a certain size without further attention when the boxes are fed thereto.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated above which occupies very little space, and is compact and simple in arrangement.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view looking upwardly in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view taken from right to left in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 4-4.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 and showing the mounting of one of the revolving brushes.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 and showing the overhead spray arrangement.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the lower part of Figure 4 and showing the relation of one of the vertical sprays in relation to one of the revolving brushes.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the centrifugal pump.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the embodiment chosen for illustrative purposes is shown as composed of a generally rectangular casing 5 which is supported at its corners by legs 6 and which is elongated in the direction of travel of the boxes or cases or the like 1 which are to be cleaned and scrubbed therein.

The casing is open at its opposite ends as indicated by the numerals 8 and 9 above the point It). Below the point In the walls of the casing are secured so that a quantity of washing fluid or solution H is held in the bottom of the container and rises to a level just below the conveyor chains l2 which run over sprockets l3 on shafts M and I5, the said shafts being supported at the opposite ends of channel guides l6 and H which are 5 fastened tothe sides of the openings 8 and 9 of the casing. The guide channels I 6 and I1 extend to a greater distance from the opening 8 than from the opening 9 as will be clear from Figure 4.

The boxes or cases or other objects to be washed in the machine are placed on the guides l6 and H at the left hand end thereof so that the conveyor chains [2 act thereon and push the same forwardly and toward the right so that the 15 object to be cleaned is first subjected to a multiplicity of sprayers l9 which consist of horizontal pipes which are suspended across the upper part of the left hand of the casing and have spray orifices directing sprays 2| of the cleaning 20 fluid so as to strike the sides of the box or the like at different angles and thereby agitate and wash away the accumulations on the box or the like. The fluid and the accumulations fall from the sides of the box and empty into the lower part of the casing which constitutes the reservoir for the cleaning fluid. The conveyor chains having moved the object to be cleaned past the sprayers [9, the box then comes into contact with the vertical rotary brushes 22 at opposite sides of the casing and located in outset casing portions 24 and 25. In front of the respective rotary brushes are vertical spray pipes 26 which have spray orifices directing jets 21 of cleaning fluid against the respective brushes 22 and also against the sides and front of the box or the like being cleaned as the box comes into contact with and is scrubbed by the brushes 22. The jets 2'! also clean and wash off the sides of the boxes as the same pass through the brushes, so as to rinse the boxes to a clean condition as they pass oil the conveyor chains I2 at the right hand end of the guides I 6 and I1.

Each rotary brush comprises a shaft 30 on which is a bushing 3| containing the bristles 32, and the shaft is journaled in. a depending sleeve bearing 33 which is a part of a slide casting 34 which has tongues on its opposite sides sliding in confining grooves 35 in the slide plate 36 which is mounted across the top of the casing between 5 the outset portions 24 and 25.

The upper end of the shaft 30 extends above the casting 34 where it has fixed thereto a beveled pinion 31 which is in mesh with another beveled pinion 38 which is mounted on the shaft ill 39 and has a set screw or the equivalent 46 which enables locking the pinion 38 in different longitudinal positions on the shaft 39, necessary to maintain the pinion 38 meshed with the pinion 31 when the slide casting 34 is moved toward or away from the center of the casing to accommodate boxes of different widths, by bringing the brushes into proper engagement with the sides of the boxes which pass therebetween. A suitable bearing 4| is provided across the center of the support 36 for centering and supporting the center of the shaft 39, and end bearings 42 and 43 support the outer ends of the shaft 39. Suitable openings in the guides I6 and I! allow the brushes the necessary freedom of adjustment as described.

The left hand end of the shaft 39 has fixed thereto a pulley 44 outside of the bearing 42, while the opposite end of the shaft 39 has fixed thereto a beveled pinion 45 which is meshed with another beveled pinion 46 which is on the upper end of a shaft 41 journaled in an upper bearing 48 and a lower bearing 49, the latter bearing being part of a housing 50 or gear box in operative relation to one end of the shaft l5. It will be observed that the shaft [5 has fingers 5| thereon which lift the boxes onto the conveyor (not shown) which is fed by the right hand end of the washing machine.

Mounted on the top 52 of the casing 5 to the left of the outset portions 24 and 25 and at the left hand side of the top is the electric or other similar motor 53 which has a pulley 54 over which is trained a belt 55 which drives the pulley 44.

The opposite end of the. shaft of the motor 53 is coupled as indicated at 56 to a centrifugal pump 51 which has an intake pipe 58 leading over and out along the right hand side of the casing 5 to the lower reservoir part thereof as indicated by the numeral 59, so as to draw cleaning fluid from the reservoir portion of the casing.

The outlet 60 of the pump is connected to an enlarged conduit 6| which is vertically arranged and has leading back therefrom the fluid conveying pipe 62 which has the downwardly directed portion 63 which is connected to the rear end of the header 64 to which the right hand ends of the spray pipes 19 are successively connected. The header 64 is connected to a pipe 65 which traverses the casing on the level withthe pipes I9, by means of a pipe 66, and the pipe. 65 has at its opposite end anddepending therefrom the vertical sprayers 26 already mentioned.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the single out-of-the-way small motor 53 not only drives the rotary brushes 22, but the pump for furnishing the fluid under pressure to the various sprays, and in addition the conveyor chains l2, all of these mechanisms being driven in coordination.

It will also be observed that the machine is relatively small in width and height considering the sizes of cases and boxes capable of being handled by it; that the motor and pump are located on the top of the casing so as to be out of the way and occupy a minimum of space; and that this location of the motor keeps the same dry and out of contact with the washing fluid; and that all parts are immediately and directly accessible for repair or adjustment at any time.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a device of the character described, a horizontal conveyor arranged to convey a box to be washed from one point to another, a casing surrounding a portion of said conveyor and containing preliminary spray means to which the box is first subjected in its travel and secondary washing means to which the box is next subjected in its travel, said secondary washing means comprising vertical rotary brushes adjacent the conveyor and spaced transversely thereof for the boxes to move therebetween, and rinsing sprays following said brushes, and means adjustably mounting said brushes on the casing for movement transversely of the conveyor and enabling adjusting said brushes toward and away from each other to accommodate boxes of different widths, said means comprising transverse slideways on the top of the casing, and slides carrying said brushes and slidable in said slideways.

2. In a device of the character described, a horizontal conveyor arranged to convey a box to be washed from one point to another, a casing surrounding a portion of said conveyor and containing preliminary spray means to which the box is first subjected in its travel and secondary washing means to which the box is next subjected in its travel, said secondary washing means comprising vertical rotary brushes adjacent the conveyor and spaced transversely thereof for the boxes to move therebetween, and rinsing sprays beyond the brushes, and means adjustably mounting said brushes on the casing for movement transversely of the conveyor and enabling adjusting said brushes toward and away from each other to accommodate boxes of different widths, said rinsing means being located beyond the brushes and arranged to spray in backward and laterally inward directions and against the portions of the, sides of the box then engaged by the brushes, said brush mounting means comprising slideways on the top of the casing, and slides carrying said brushes and slidably supported in said slideways.

FRED SCHROEDER. 

